If you’re the techie type of podcaster, you’d be very open to buying different gadgets to help you in your podcasts.

If you want to record your phone interviews with an exceptional level of quality you should get a handset tap. For example, a great gadget is the QuickTap manufactured by JK Audio. The $60 device will fit in between the phone base and the handset. It has an analog audio input that can be used to attach to a computer. Of course, the limitation of the QuickTap is that it will only work on a traditionally wired phone setup.

Of course, there are other devices available in various stores that will allow you to record phone conversations. Just look at the features and check which ones you will need.

The last post I made was on how to reduce background noise when recording. It is interesting to note that the PC itself can cause significant background noise that can creep into your podcast. That’s why, one great workaround to a cleaner, background noise-free recording would be to totally eliminate the PC from the recording process.

There are small gadgets in the market that allow you to record audio for your podcasts without the use of a PC. These standalone digital recorders are easy to use, very portable and allow you a great deal of leeway in terms of creating the perfect recording space.

One of the best standalone digital recorders out there is the Zoom H2. At just 200 dollars, the H2 is the perfect companion for the budding podcaster. Its size is quite diminutive and yet despite its size it is capable of recording CD quality sound. The recordings are stored automatically on the SD card that you insert on the SD card slot. Propping up the H2 is easy as it comes with two different stands — a small handle and a tripod like stand.

You can record your podcast using the H2’s very good onboard mics (it has more than one), or you can also use another mic because it has a mic adapter. finished recordings can also be transferred through a USB port.

One more of the fundamental tips is to keep your distance from the mic which most people forget for with proper distance (which by the way you get only with experience with your setup) from the mic for whatever cost you may have spent on a mic use it wrong and you get trash. Mic filters, wind screens and many other stuff will get you respectable audio yet if you are still in the learning curve, try this trick, make a distance cue, say a pencil with the tip coated with some fluorescent paint to make it stand out and focus on the proper distance using it as a guide till you get it to sink in. More →

HHB, a professional audio equipment manufacturer from the UK has shipped 10,000 of these wonderful mics, and with good reason, it’s portable, easy to use with no wires and has a built in flash memory that allows you to record on the go. This is a very nifty feature for podcasters who often do their work on-the-fly for what easier and lighter way to do a recording than with a flashmic that can store over 18 hours of uninterrupted audio for your compilation of materials that you can use for your podcast. The mic is durable enough for the rigors of portable recording and is easy enough to use without the need for a wire leading to the USB port on your laptop (tired recording impromptu on your laptop on-the-go) More →

Want MP3 Podcasts without much work, then why not try using the Marantz PMD-620, which records straight to MP3, no conversions necessary. this has been a common problem with podcasts, wav files are too large yet are the easiest ones to edit for they contain very detailed sound information. Mp3’s however are easier to transport and are smaller in file size thus more economical for all to use. The PMD620 has been around for quite sometime and it has been used by many a podcasters. Marantz is considered to be one of the best producer’s of audio equipment along with their other powerful digital recorders they have managed to keep their edge with their robust design and More →

Ever had the urge to do a podcast in the most unlikely place without your PC, MIC and Software. Ever been caught flat-footed with the idea you’ve been thinking of for a whole week, but can’t seem to blurt out the words to make it enticing. Then these iPod Mics would make your day with both style and function. It was a long time coming, quality CD grade recording facilities for your iPod you’ve worked so hard to buy. There are a lot of aftermarket mics out on the market from the cheapest to the outrageously expensive but we’ll shake down three to make things More →

Again from BlueMics, we have two of the best mics around that are named coldly as Snowball and Snowflake. The Snowball is considered to be one of the first professional quality USB mics around that gives you the ability to record studio quality sound anywhere. As with their other products, they need no additional software that eats up precious space you might have otherwise needed to save audio. You can record quality audio on the kitchen table, garage, on the road or a concert giving professionally accepted audio that captures all sounds in the More →